The cultural affairs ministry has proposed to declare Pahela Agrahayan, the first day of the eighth month of the Bengali year, as “Jatiya Nabanno Utsab” (National Harvest Festival) in recognition of the traditional harvest festival of Aman paddy by farmers. The ministry is likely to place the proposal for approval at the cabinet meeting today, sources said.

In the proposal, the secretary of the cultural affairs ministry said they have taken the opinion of several ministries concerned including housing and public works, textiles and jute, science and technology, railways, women and children affairs, telecommunications, roads and highways and bridges, and the Election Commission secretariat to celebrate Pahela Agrahayan as Jatiya Nabanno Utsab. For thousands of years, Bengalis have been celebrating the first day of Agrahayan as Jatiya Nabanno Utsab, which heralds peace and prosperity by bringing home Aman rice to replenish the family’s food stock.

In 2015, the government had urged the deputy commissioners (DCs) and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) to celebrate Pahela Agrahayan as Jatiya Nabanno Utsab in their respective areas and field officials have been celebrating the day with festivities.

In their reports to the culture ministry, the field officials have also sought an official recognition for the day. The Cabinet Division too has consented to celebrating the day with festivities. “It will cost around Tk 1 Crore to celebrate Pahela Agrahayan as Jatiya Nabanno Utsab nationally every year and the Finance Division has also given a no objection in this regard,” a senior official of the culture ministry said.

At present, some cultural activists celebrate the day in Dhaka on a small scale to honour one of the aspects of cultural festivals in the life of Bengalis.